Toy dump truck



Ap 14, 1953 R. N. CARVER EIAL TOY DUMP TRUCK Filed 001;. 15, 1949 m M WW3 N v n WW Mp W April 14, 1953 R. N. CARVER EI'AL 34,546

TOY DUMP TRUCK ATTOR EY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 TOY DUMP TRUCK Richard N. Carver and John J. Dobkowski, Erie, Pa., assignors to Louis Marx & Company, Inc.,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle toys, and more particularly to toy dump trucks.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve vehicle toys. A more particular object is to provide a self-propelled toy dump truck which automatically stops and dumps at intervals.

Such toy dump trucks have heretofore required the use of movable or shiftable gearing arranged to intermittently disconnect the motor from the propulsion wheels and to instead connect the same to the dumping mechanism. This is not only complex, but in the case of toys driven by a spring motor, introduces the problem of preventing undesired free unwinding of the spring motor during the transition from the propulsion load to the dumping load.

In accordance with the present invention the truck is stopped intermittently without disconnecting the motor from the propulsion wheels. Instead a brake is provided which is movable toward or away from the ground, and when moved toward the ground it raises the propulsion wheel (or wheels) from the ground. There is linkage between the brake and the motor for intermittently raising and lowering the brake, and additional linkage operated by the motor for dumping the dump body substantially coincidentally with lowering of the brake and stopping of the vehicle. In addition a simulated figure on the vehicle may be moved at the same time. For example, the head of the driver may be turned away from its forward position as though observing the dumping operation, thus heightening the realism of the toy.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention resides in the dump truck elements, and their relation one to another as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectioned side elevation of a dump truck embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the toy in dumping position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section drawn to enlarged scale and showing the mechanism of the toy in greater detail;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts of the toy in dumping position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken approximately in the plane of the line 66 of Fig. 4; and I New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 15, 1949, Serial No. 121,524

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken approximately in the plane of the line 'l---! of Fig. 4.

Referring to. the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the toy dump truck comprises a chassis l2 having forward or steer,- ing wheels 14 and rear or propulsion wheels l6, l1. Thereis a spring motor which may be wound by a key 18, the said motor serving in this particular case to drive the single propulsion wheel 16. However, the other rear wheel I! could also be made fast to the rear axle 46, in which case both rear wheels would act as propulsion wheels. A dump body 20 is pivotally mounted on the chassis, and a tail board 22 may be pivotally mounted on the dump body.- The means for automatically stopping the vehicle at intervals includes a brake 24 which is movable toward or away from the ground in such a position that when moved toward the ground it raises the propulsion wheel Hi from the ground. In the case here illustrated it raises both rear wheels [6 and I! from the ground, as shown in Fig. 2.

There is linkage between the brake 24 and a slow speed shaft, preferably the slow speed winding. stem.32 of the spring motor, for intermittently raising and lowering the brake 24. There is additional linkage operated by the slow speed shaft of the motor for dumping the dump body 20 coincidentally with lowering of the brake 24. In the present case this linkage includes a pusher 26 which is raised from the chassis I2 against the dump body, as is shown in Fig. 2. The truck further includes a movable figure, in thiscase a simulated driver 28 having a turnable head 30. There is additional linkage whereby the head is turned away from forward position, as shown by the change from Fig. 1 to Fig. 2, each time the vehicle is stopped and dumped. All of this linkage has been simplified and minimized, and is described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 4 through '7 of the drawing, the propulsion motor may be a battery operated electric motor, or any other suitable motor, but is here exemplified by a spring motor which may be conventional in comprising a winding stem 32 for a ribbonlike spiral spring, the body of which is not shown. The inner end of the spring is connected to the shaft 32, and the outer end is connected to the frame 34 of the spring motor, as is schematically indicated at 35. The winding stem and spring turn a large gear 36 through appropriate ratchet mechanism. not shown, which may be of conventional type. The motor drives the propulsion wheel 18 u h a train of step-up gearing which includes the main gear 36 meshing with an inter 3 mediate pinion 38 (Fig. 4) on an intermediate shaft 40 carrying an intermediate gear 42 which meshes with a pinion 44 on the rear axle 46 of the wheels I6, ll.

The motor is preferably provided with suitable governor mechanism to limit its unwinding speed. In the present. case this comprises. another train of step-up gearing including a gear" 48' om axle. 46 meshing with a pinion 50 which turns a gear 52 meshing with a pinion 54 on a governor shaft- 56. The governor shaft carries an eccentric Weight 58 which acts as the speed limiting means.

In order that the toy run. an appreciable distance between dumping operations, the stopping and dumping actions are preferably taken. from a relatively slow speed shaft. In. the present case they are taken from the slowest. speed shaft, the winding stem 32. Specifically, the gear at. has a pair of projections or tongues 60 and 62' struck outwardly therefrom at diametrically opposite points, the material forsaid. projections leaving the holes 6'4. The projections cooperate: with the arm 66' (Figs. 4, and 6) of an angle lever pivoted at 68. The other arm of said. angle lever is connected at 12- toabar F4 extending longitudi nall-yofthe toy". The rear end of bar- 1"4" carries the brake 24 previously referred to. It also carries aneyelet T6 acting as a camfollower which moves in a cam groove T8 formed in one of the metal sideplates of the motor-frame. The cam groove has a sloping portion, and it will be evident that longitudinal movement of the bar 14 will cause a lowering of the brake 2'4. The action will be clearly understood by comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, for the movement of tongue 60 against angle lever 66 turns the lever from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, thereby pulling the bar l4 forward. and so shiftingthe cam follower 16 from the rearward and upward position shown in Fig. 41 to the forward and downward position shown in Fig". 5. The brake 24 is preferably fixed on bar [4, and ishere shown to be stamped integrally from a single piece of sheet metal. At this time the brake. 24 rests on the grounder floor indicated by the. line 81!; and the propulsion wheel IB is raised from. the ground; The toy is thus brought to a halt; for onthe one handthe continued rotation of the wheel I6 is ineffective, and on the other hand the brake 24 bearing; against the ground? brings the vehicle to a quick' stop.

When the tongue Ell leaves the end. of angle lever 66 the lever is turned; back to the starting position shown in; Fig. 2 by a restoring; Spring 82'. The action is repeated when the diametricallyopposite tongue 62' reaches. the arm 66... In the particular case here shown the stopping action takes place twice for. each revolution of the slow speed winding stem 3-2. This is convenient not only for proper and. desired timing of the stopping action, but also because one of the tongues may be used for the dumping action while the other is used for the stopping action.

For this purpose, it will be seen that the. generally upright pusher 2 6 is formed at. the rear end of a generally horizontal arm 84,, which in turn carries at its forward end a. depending slotted guide 86... The slot 88 in guide 86 encloses the winding, stem 32. The guiding action. thus provided at stem 32', taken together withthe guiding action of the. slot 9]] receiving the pusher 26,, results. in the. entire member shifting vertically without rotation. The arm 84. has a cam follower ledge 52' bent .sidewardly therefrom. to'a position overlying the path of revolution of the tongues 60 and 62, as is best shown in Fig. 7. It will thus be evident that rotation of the main stem 32 causes the pusher 26 to be raised from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and higher, for in Fig. 5 the tongue 62 and the pusher 26 have not yet risen to their highest position.

Meanwhile, the other tongue: 60; is on the verge of'di'sengaging the arm 66, but this timing of the parts is preferred because it results in the truck resuming its forward movement a little before the dump body is lowered. This better simulates the action of a real dump truck, for it is customary to run such a truck forward a slight amount while the dump body .is still in dumping position in order to insure emptying of the entire load.

The dump body 20 is provided with a pair of depending ears 94 pivoted on the chassis by means of a crossrod 96. The forward end of the body 20- may be provided with astop- 98 which limits the downward movement of the body to desired horizontal position. The body is so balanced that it tends naturally tofall to horizontal position, but desired, restoration of the body may be further assured by the provision of a spring, such as that indicated at [09 in Figs. I and 2. This spring is so: coiled about the pin- 96 with one arm bearing against the dump body and the other arm bearing against the chassis; that ittends normally to restore the dump body back to horizontal position. The. rear panel or tail board 22 may be freely pi voted on the body at M2,. in which case it will assume the closed position shown in Fig. I when the truck is running, and will automatically move to an open position, as shown in Fig; 2, as the dump body is lifted or tilted.

The synchronizedturning of the head 39 relative to the body- 28- may be obtained in various ways. In the present case it is obtained by linking the head to the bar 14' previously referred to. Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, thehead 3% is mounted on a shaft M4 which extends toward the bottom of the truck, and which has an olisetpin or crank i fl fithereon. The pin N6 is received in a slot H58 (Fig. 6)" running transversely of the bar l t. Forward or rearward movement of the bar swings the crank p n me and thus turns the head, the transverse component of the movement of the crank pin being" accommodated by the transverse slot [08. If desired, the forward position of the head may-- be determined by-means ofa stop I lit:

Referring now to Fig. 3. the overall operationof the toy may be stopped or started by means of an cam-shaped wheel brake H2" pivoted at H4 and provided with an operating arm H6. It will be understood that byswinging the arm 6 from the solid line position to the broken line position M3. the. cam-shaped brake H2 Will be jammed against the adjacent propulsion wheel it. The wheels. are. all preferably made of rubber, or are at. least rubber tired; The wheel lock H 2 is convenient to use when winding the toy by means of thekey Hi.

If the space available for operation of the toy is limited, as in the case of an ordinary room, the wheels 14 may be disposed at an angle so that the toy will. run in a circle instead of a straight line. The mechanism. for this purpose is not per se new, and it will be sufiicient to refer briefly to Figs; 1-. and 2 in which it will be seen that the front; axle is received in. a. notch, but, if desired, may shifted rearward at one wheel to locate the axle in a companion notchbody.

I22. It thus becomes possible to shift the axle from a straight running position to an angular separate molded piece. It may be molded with trunnions I 02. which are received in bearing ears formed at the corners of the sides of the dump The sides of the dump body may be spread apart slightly to receive the trunnions when assembling the toy. The molded dump body may include the ears 94 and the stop 98 as parts thereof.

The chassis I 2 is molded of a single body of moldable plastic material, except for a few parts which it may be more convenient to mold separately. In the present case these are the windshield l24, the steering wheel I26, and the driver 28, 3|). Other details such as the radiator ornament, headlights, bumper, etc., may be molded in one piece with the chassis. The body 28 and head 30 are hollow, and may be molded of halves which are cemented together in edge to edge relation.

The motor frame is preferably made of metal and is inserted upwardly into the open bottom of the molded chassis. The motor frame is secured to the chassis at the top by means of bent tongues, one of which is indicated at I28 in Figs. 4 and 5, and the other of which is concealed bv the pusher 26. The bottom plate shown at I30 in Fig. 3 is made of sheet metal which may be fastened to the plastic chassis by means of six rivets i32 which are molded integrally with the chassis and are spread by means of a heated tool after the sheet metal bottom I30 is applied. The

sides of the sheet metal bottom are turned upwardly within the steering wheels I. as is indicated at I34 in Figs. 1 and 2, and it is one of these sides which is appropriately slotted and notched to carry the front axle in adjustable position. The wheel locking lever IIB shown in Fig. 3 may be stamped out of sheet metal, but

the pivot H4 on which it is mounted may be molded as a part of the chassis, and may be headed by means of a heated riveting tool as previously mentioned. A part I36 of the bottom plate I30 underlies and may be secured to the forward end of the motor frame 34.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages, of our improved dump truck will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. The truck runs for an interval and then automatically stops and dumps. During the dumping operation the driver looks around as though observing the operation. The truck resumes its forward movement and promptly thereafter the dump body returns to normal position.

It will be understood that while we have referred to the brake as raising both rear wheels from the ground, this is essential only if there are two propulsion wheels. One of the rear wheels may be loose and the other fixed to the axle, as is common in many toys, in which case the brake nevertheless may be used to raise both wheels from the ground as here shown in order that the toy remain level during the dumping operation. However, the brake might be located near one wheel, thus raising only one wheel from the ground, and in such case the brake would be located immediately adjacent the propulsion wheel. The brake may consist of two parts instead of one, the said parts being located just inside or just outside the two rear wheels, and said parts both being raised or lowered together, instead of using only a single brake located between the two wheels ashere shown. It will also be understood that the linkage for causing the dump body to dump and for causing the head of the driver to turn may be varied from the spe cific linkage shown.

It will therefore be apparent that while we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A vehicle toy comprising a chassis, one or more steering wheels, one or more propulsion wheels, a spring motor mounted on said chassis for driving a propulsion wheel, a brake disposed near the propulsion wheel, a bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track a part of which slopes with respect to the horizontal anda relatively movable follower so arranged in relation to the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved and the brake is lowered to a position which raises the propulsion wheel from the ground, and when the bar is moved in opposite direction the brake is raised from the ground to a position which permits the propulsion wheel to rest on the ground, said cam track having a substantially horizontal dwell portion at that end of the aforesaid sloping lift portion which corresponds to lowering of the brake, and means operated by the slow speed winding stem of said motor for intermittently moving the bar longitudinally of the vehicle.

2. A toy dump truck comprising a chassis, one or more steering wheels, one or more propulsion wheels, a spring motor mounted on said chassis for driving a propulsion wheel, a brake disposed near the propulsion wheel, a bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track a part of which slopes with respect to the horizontal and a relatively movable follower so arranged in relation to the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved and the brake is lowered to a position which raises the propulsion wheel from the ground, and when the bar is moved in opposite direction the brake is raised from the groundto a position which permits the propulsion wheel to rest on the ground, said cam track having a substantially horizontal dwell portion at that end of the aforesaid sloping lift portion which corresponds to lowering of the brake, a dump body pivotally mounted on said chassis, a pusher movable upwardly from the chassis against the dump body for tilting the same and means operated by the slow speed winding stem of said motor for intermittently moving the bar longitudinalhr of the vehicle, and for simultaneously raising said pusher substantially coincidentally with lowering of the brake and stopping of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle toy comprising a chassis, one or more steering wheels, one or more propulsion wheels, a spring motor mounted on said chassis for driving a propulsion wheel, a brake disposed near the propulsion wheel, a single main bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track a part of which slopes with respect to the horizontal and a relatively movable follower so arranged in relation to 'the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved. and the: brake is; lowered: to a position which; raisesv the propulsion wheel from the ground, and when thebar is moved in opposite direction the brake is raised from the ground to a position which permits.v the propulsion wheel. to rest on the ground, said cam track having a substantially horizontal dwell portion at that. end of the: aforesaid sloping lift portion which. corresponds: to lowering of the brake, means operated by the slow speed winding stem of said motor for intermittently moving the bar longitudinally of the vehicle, a simulated driver on said vehicle having a movable head, a shaft extending from the head toward the bottom of the vehicle, an

offset pin or crank on. said shaft, and means connecting the: aforesaid single mainbar to the ofiset pin or crank, whereby longitudinal movement of the bar causes turning of the head coincidental with stopping of the vehicle.

4. A toy dump truck comprising a chassis, one

.or' more steering wheels, one or more propulsion wheels, a spring motor mounted on said chassis for driving a. propulsion wheel, a. brake disposed near the propulsion wheel,: a single main bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track. a part of which slopes with respect to the horizontal and a relatively movable follower so arranged in: relation to the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved and the brake is lowered to a position which raises the propulsion wheel from the ground, and when the bar is moved in opposite direction the brake is raised. from the ground to a position which permits the propulsion wheel pusher substantially coincidentally with lowering of the brake and. stopping of the vehicle; a simulated driver on said vehicle having a movable head, a shaft extending from the head to the bottom of the vehicle, an offset pin or crank on said shaft, and. means connecting the aforesaid singlemain bar to the offset pin or crank, whereby longitudinal movement of the bar causes turning, of the head coincidental with stopping and dumping of the vehicle.

5.. A toydump truck comprising a chassis, a propulsion wheel, a motor mounted on said chassis for driving said propulsion wheel, a brake disposed near-the propulsion wheel, a bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track a part of which slopes With respect to the horizontal, and a, relatively movable follower so arranged in relation to the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved and the brake is lowered to a position which, raises the propulsion wheel from the ground, and when the bar is moved in opposite direction the brake is raised from the ground tov a. position which permits thev propulsion wheel to rest on the ground, said cam track having a substantially horizontal dwell portion at that end of the aforesaid sloping lift portion which corresponds to lowering; of. the brake, a dump body pivotally mounted on said chassis, a pusher movable upwardly from the chassis against the dump body for tilting the same, and means operated by said motor for intermittently moving the bar in one direction or the other, and for simultaneously raising said pusher substantially coincidentally with stopping and dwell of the vehicle, said means being so timed as to cause raising of the brake prior to lowering of the dump body, so that the. truck resumes travel while the body is still in dumping position.

6. A top dump truck comprising a chassis, a propulsion wheel, a motor mounted on said chassis for driving said propulsion wheel, a brake, a single main bar connected to said brake and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a cam track a part of which slopes with respect to the hori'- zontal, and a relatively movable follower so arranged in relation to the brake that when the bar is moved in one direction the track and follower are relatively moved and the brake is lowered to a position which raises the propulsion Wheel from the ground, and when the bar is moved in up posite direction the brake is raised from the ground to a position which permits the propulsion wheel to rest on the ground, said cam track having a substantially horizontal dwell portion at that end of the aforesaid sloping lift portion which corresponds to lowering of the brake, a dump body pivotally mounted on said chassis, a pusher movable upwardly from the chassis against the dump body for tilting the same, means operated by said motor for intermittently moving the bar in one direction or the other, and for simultaneously raising said pusher substantially coincidentally with stopping and dwell of the vehicle, said means being so timed as to cause raising of the brake prior to lowering of the dump body, so that the truck resumes travel while the body is still in dumping position, a simulated figure on said vehicle having a movable body portion, means extending from the body portion toward the bottom of the vehicle, and means conheating the aforesaid single main bar to the said means whereby longitudinal movement of the bar causes movement of the body portion coincidental with stopping and dump-ing of the vehicle.

RICHARD N. CARVER. JOHN J. DOBKOWSKI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date,

2,143,665 Wood Feb. '7, 1939 2,172,416 Swenson Sept. 12, 1939 2,201,148 Berger May 21, 1940 2,250 215 Berger July 22, 1941 2,443,519 Sadofsky June 15, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date.

217,576 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1924 493,977 Germany Mar. 18, 1930 576,723 France May 21, 1924 

